Machine for making master-sheets.



P. J. MEAHL.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MASTER SHEETS.

APPLICATIONFILED' luLvzl. 1914.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEEI 1.

est: Invefitor:

- /1 /LM A tty,

: P. 1. MEAHL.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MASTER SHEETS. APPLICATION man JULY 21; i914.

1,156,701, r Patented Oct. 12, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

In Ven tor:

PHILIP JACOB MEAHL, SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MASTER-SHEETS.

Specification of Letters mat.

Application filed July 21, 1914. Serial No. 852,133.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP J. lvIEAHL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Summit, in the county of Union and State of NewJersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Machines forMaking Master-Sheets, of which the follow- .ing is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inmachines for making master sheets from automatic record sheets producedby manual playing on key instruments.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved machine ofthis kind by means of which a perforated copy to be used as a mastersheet in a perforating machine can be made from a perforatedautomaticallv made record of manual playing, in which copy or mastersheet, the individual perforations or the beginnings of slots are solocated in said master sheet copy that they will correctly cooperatewith the mechanically or otherwise operated selectors of a duplicatingperforating machine of ordinary mechanical construction, in which thepaper is fed step by step and the punches operated at correspondingintervals, the punching means being controlled automatically byselectors which in turn are controlled by the master sheet, all of whichis simple in construction and efl'ective and reliable in use.

In the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference indicatelike parts in all the figures:-Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view of my improved machine for making master sheets, partsbeing broken away. Figs. 2 and 3 are elevations of the two oppositesides, parts being omitted.

In making an automatic record of manual playing on a pianoor organ by anartist or skilled piano player, the paper sheet on which this record isto be made is punched or marked by a series of punching devices ormarkers, the operation of which is controlled from the keys manipulatedby the player, such automatic recording machine of any well known typeor construction, being connected with a piano on which the pianist orplayerperforms and the record marks or cuts made in this sheetcorrespond to the length of time that a key was held depressed, wherebya correct visual record of each key depressed and'of the time that ithas remained depressed is produced. Pianists 'manner or by any suitablemeans. .manually made record sheet, used as a Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

have more or less idiosyncrasies and pe- I culiarities in touch and thelike for the purpose of bringing out the expression as they may deem itnecessary and their interpretation of the composition. It will be foundthat in such an automatically made record sheet the individual punchingsor the beginnings of slots do not coincide exactly with the positionswhich they should have in, .order to permit such a record sheet to beused as a master sheet in a mechanically operated reproducing machinefor making copies of the record sheet because it is necessary that theindividual punchings or the beginnings of slots shall have a certain.relation to the step by step movements of the reproducing machine.

matically by the pianist or player with a view of bringing theindividual punchings It is therefore neces- I Y sary to correct therecordthus made auto-.

accidentaly or intentionally. Furthermore 1 it frequently happens thatin such automatically made records .not enough paper is left betweensucceeding openings to produce the proper paper bridges, required insuch a sheet, for repeat notes'if-the same is to be used on a mechanicalplayer.

.In iny improved machine, I use the manu- 1 ally producedrecord sheet,as it leaves the recording machine and after the bridges have beencorrected and Ivplace this into a duplicating machine for perforatedmusic sheets using this manual recorded sheet in connection with'punchcontrolling selectors as has been customary, these selectors beingcontrolled by this manually made 'master sheet in the well known mannerand the punches being operated in the well known manner and I provide asheet on which the punches so controlled produce a copy by producingpunchings or slots in the copy sheet. The manually produced record sheetnow used as a master sheet is shifted step by step at'acertainpre-determined speed and this mechanism is preferably driven fromthe main shaft of the perforating machine but it may be driven in anyother suitable This master sheet is shifted step by step at a uniformspeed, let us say 1/100th of an inch for each step. Of course this is byno means a fixed dimension and is only given as an example as the feedmay be 1/10 00th of an inch or more than 1/ 100th of an inch.

The paper sheet on .which the copy is to be made by means of the punchescontrolled by the manually made record, now used as a v1/100th of aninch each of the manually produced record, used as a master sheet andonly after five such steps of 1/100th of an inch each of the manuallyproducedaecord,

used as a master sheet, have been made, will the copy sheet be moved oneof its feeding steps, that is 3/16ths of an inch, I have assumed thatthe manual record used as a master sheet is moved-five steps for everystep of the copy sheet, but this relation can be changed at will andonefeeding step of the copy sheet may be made equal to any multiple offeed steps of the manual record sheet, used as a master sheet, more thantwo; that is to say; the manually made record, used as a master sheet,must be shifted at least two steps for each step of the copy sheet butit can be shifted three steps, four, five, six or more. The distancethat the copy sheet is. moved by each step may be greater than thedistance moved by the -manual record, used as a' master sheet during anumber of steps of the manual record, used as a master sheetcorresponding to one step of movement of the copy sheet or said distancemay be equal, that being immaterial but in all cases more than one feedstep of the manual record, used as a master sheet must be provided foreach step of the copy sheet so that there will be a distinct period ofrestin the feed of the copy sheet. This relation of the steps of themaster sheet and copy sheet is and must be so selected that the copythus made can be used on a perforating machine operating its feed andpunches step by step in such a manner that the selectors of thiscopyingmachine can cooperate with the copy thus produced as stated abovewhen used as a master sheet in this second or duplicating machine. Thatis, the feed of the master sheet in this second or duplicatingmachine-must be such that the transverse rows of slots or punchings inthe copy thus made and now used as a master sheet mustbe in a transverseline on the sheet so that the selector pins can pass into said slots oropenings.

' The particular embodiment shown in the drawings is constructed with amain frame 1 on which all the several parts are mounted. At the centerof the main frame two standards 2 are provided, one on each side, in

which is mounted the main drive shaft 3 carrying suitable means forrotating it from a source of power. On this shaft is fixed a cam disk 5having a groove into which a pin 6 passes, which extends laterally fromthe top of a' verticaly reciprocating punch operating head 7 suitablyguided in the side frames of the machine. Beneath the head 7 atransverse punch guide Sis secured in, the

side frames, directly above a die holding block 9 on the top of which adie plate 10 is secured. In the punch guide 8 a series of punches 11 areguided to move vertically, each punch being provided at its upper endwith a button12 which rests in'a recess 13 in the punch operating head7, so that as the head moves upward the punches are all raised. Aboveeach button 12 a horizontal punch controlling slide 14 is mounted onedge so that it can be shifted across the head 7 horizontally and eachslide is provided in its bottom edge with a notch or recess 15 intowhich the button 12 of the punch directly below it can pass when saidnotch or recess is in alinement with the punch.

In brackets 16 at one end of the main frame 1, a transverse shaft 17 ismounted on which is secured a perforated master sheet drum 18 ofconventional construction, which drum is provided at its end withsprocket teeth 20 which can pass into slots out along the edge of themaster sheet, in the well This drum is driven by known manner. suitablegearing to be described hereinafter, from the main shaft 3, so that apre-determined relation is established between the speed of rotation ofthe main shaft 3 and the drum 18 and for each rotation of the mainshaft, the master sheet drum is rotatively shifted a certain distance. Aseries of horizontal selector pins 22 are guided at their free ends by aguide plate 23 ad jacent to and parallel with the drum 18 and theopposite end of each of these selector pins is pivotally connected withthe upper end of a curved substantially L-shaped lifting lever 24pivoted at 25 to a bar 26 having a series of vertical slots 27 in whichsaid lifting levers 2 1 are severally located. Each selector pin isconnected above its pivot with one end of a spring 28, the, opposite endof which is secured to a bracket 29 on the bar 26, which springs serveto pull on the upper ends of the lifting levers, thereby gently pressingthe free ends of the selector pins against the master sheet passing overthe drum 18, the lower -i "ads of which lifting le- I mounted for eachslide 14 vers each terminate in a head 30 resting within a notch 31 of a.thrust block 32 of which one is provided for each lifting lever, saidthrust blocks being slidably guided in slots in the bar 26 to move upand down vertically under the action of the lifting levers 24. Whenevera hole appears in the master sheet opposite the row of guide holes inthe guide plate 23 the corresponding selector pin is forced to the rightinto said hole in the master sheet under the action of a spring 28 andthereby the corresponding thrust block 32 is raised. A'carriage 33,extending transversely across the machine frame is guided at its'ends inhorizontal guides 34 so as to reciprocate horizontally and in saidcarriage one and'corr'esponding lifting lever 24, one end of saidselector rod being pivotally connected with the corresponding slide 14and the opposite end being connected with a U Tsha-ped piece .36 mountedslidably in the carriage in such a manner that the ends 37 of the longshanks of the several pieces 36 project beyond the right hand side ofthe carriage and into the paths of the several thrust blocks 32 whereasthe shorter shanks of the U-shaped piece.

are each connected with one end of a spring 38, the opposite end ofwhich is attached to the carriage, which springs thus serve for keepingthe ends 37 of the U-shaped piece projected beyond the right hand sideof the carriage, and above the thrust blocks 32. The carriage 33 isprovided with a laterally projecting pin 39 which is engaged by thelower forked end of a lever 40 pivoted at 41 and connected by a link 42with a plate 43 having a longitudinal slot 44 through which the mainshaft 3 passes. This plate carries a pin 45 which projects into a camgroove 46 of a'cam disk 47 secured on the main shaft so that as the mainshaft is rotated the lever 40 is rocked to and fro and correspondinglyreciprocates the carriage 33 toward and from the thrust blocks 32.Adjacent to the outer edges and upper end parts of each group of liftinglevers 24, I provide a bar and from the upper parts of the liftinglevers and serves as a restoring bar for bringing the lifting levers 24and selector pins 22 connected therewith into normal position, once foreach rotation of the main shaft. This bar 50 is connected by arms 51atits ends with a rock shaft 52 extending transversely across themachine, which rock shaft is operated by a bar 53 from a cam 54 of anysuitable construction on the main shaft 3.

A shaft 55 is driven of any suitable kind from the main shaft 3 and Iprefer to use for this purpose the Geneva star wheel so well known inmachines of this kind, that it is not necessary to illustrate ordescribe it-and from this selector rod 35 is tance that this duced isfed uniform distances,

punching,

50 which can swing toward is'at rest the selector 'right but none bysuitable gearing sheet, the corresponding shaft motion is transmitted bythe worm shaft 60 and worm wheel 61 or any other suitable means to thedrum 18 so as to give the same a step by .step movement, let us say ofone hundredth of an inch per step on the periphery of said drum 18.

On one end of the main shaft 3 is mounted a small pinion 62 whichengages a cog wheel 63 which has a as great as-the pinion 62 on theshaft 3 so that the wheel 63 will make only one revolution for everyfive revolutions of the main shaft. The wheel 63 carries a beveled orcam tooth 64 projecting beyond its rim and which can engage a worm wheel65 fixed on an inclined shaft 66 carrying at its lower end a beveled cogwheel 67 which engages a beveled cog wheel 68 on the shaft of a drum 69over which the sheet 70 is passed on which the copy is to'be prodnged,said drum having cogs 71 which canpass into suitable notches in theedges of the sheet 70 so as to provide uniform speed and direction. Thedrum 18 is rotated a pre-determined distance or step for each rotationof the main shaft. We will assume that the disdrum and the sheet thereonare moved for each step is 1/ 100th of an inch. As the cam tooth 64 onlyengages the worm 65 once for every five rotations of the main shaft3, itfollows that the sheet 70 on which the copy is to be produced remainssubstantially at rest during the time that the drum 18 over which themanual record, used as a master sheet, passes, is moved the distance offive steps, that-is to say, the sheet 70 remains at rest duringpractically all the time that the five reciprocations of the selectorpins 22 are made. As the sheet 70 on which the perforated copy is beingpronever more and never less and such distance correspond to the amountof paper removed by each is made, the single punchings or beginnings ofslots are always produced in a pre-determined position. For example Wew1ll asdiameter five times except when a single punching sume thatthepaper sheet 70 has been fed and remains at rest and while this paperpins 22' move to the of them enter a hole in the automatic recordsheetused as a master sheet and the consequence is that for thisrotation of themain shaft no die 7 is forced downward. The same thingmay'occurfor the second, third, fourth or fifth stroke of the selectorpins 22. If at the fifth stroke, one or more selector pins pass in theautomatic record used punches will be forced down'. Of course it mighthappen that one or more pins pass through corresponding holes in theautomatic record sheet, used as a master sheet, at the first stroke ofthe pins 22 to the right or at the second,

through holes as a master third, fourth or fifth,but some pins mightpass through at the first stroke of the pins 22 to the right of the samepins and others might pass through at the second stroke or "third, orfourth, or fifth stroke but when ever sucha pin passes through,apunching will be made in the copy sheet 70 but all,

the punchings thus madein the copy sheet 70 during these five strokes ofthe selector pins tov the right will all be produced on one and the sametransverse line of the copy sheet 70 because this copy sheet 70 has beenat rest during all this time. Then the copy sheet 70 is moved onestep'which we have agreed shall be equal to 3/16ths of an inch and thenthe selector pins 22 can make five:

strokes at the automatic sheet used as a master sheet and so on. Theresult will be that the copy produced on the sheet 70 is an exact copyof the perforations on the manual record sheet, although it may be on anenlarged scale but in this copy produced on the sheet 70, the individualpunchings ,or the beginnings of slots are on straight transverse linesseparated from each other a distance corresponding to the stroke ofthemaster sheet drum on a reproducing perforating machine or to a multipleof such distances. Such a copy as produced on the sheet 70 can thus beused at once as a master sheet in'a mechanically operated duplicatingmachine or manifolding machine because the transverse rows of slots ofindividual perforations or beginnings of slots have a certainpre-determined or fixed relation to the feed of the perforating machineand to Copies of this patent may be obtained for means and means forcontrolling the selector means from the pattern sheet passing over itsdrum, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for making perforated music sheets, the combination withtwo drums, for moving sheets to be passed over them, which drums engagesaid sheets, of

a selector mechanism controlled from the sheet on one drum, a punchmechanism controlled by said'selector mechanism and serving for makingperforations on the sheet passed over the other drum, means for movingeach drum step by step, the steps of the drum over which the sheet beingperforated ispassed being greater than the steps of the drum over whichthe pattern sheet is passed and means for making one step of the drumover which the sheet being perforated is passed, during a fixed anddeterminate number of steps, greater than one, of the drum over whichthe pattern sheet is passed, whereby the drum over which the sheet beingperforated is passed remains at rest during the time that the drum overwhich the pattern sheet is passed makes the predetermined number ofsteps, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New Yorkthis 20th day of July, A. D. 1914.

PHILIP JACOB MEAHL.

Witnesses:

OSCAR A. GUNz, M. E. MCNINCH.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. G.

